Alberta Premier Danielle Smith addressed a packed audience of over 2,000 supporters of the United Conservative Party (UCP) on Friday evening, advocating for Alberta’s continued presence within Canada. Smith expressed her confidence in the functionality of Canada, stating that with collective effort, it can improve further in the future.
The event, held at the BMO Centre in Calgary, marked the largest UCP leader’s dinner in the party’s history as per organizers. During her approximately 25-minute speech, Smith highlighted her government’s accomplishments and outlined the party’s key focuses.
The imminent Oct. 19 referendum, where Albertans will vote on various issues, including the province’s status within Canada or the initiation of a binding separation referendum, was acknowledged by Smith as a pressing concern for the audience.
Emphasizing the collaborative efforts with the federal government on a new pipeline to the B.C. coast, Smith mentioned the substantial influx of investment in energy projects resulting from this initiative, despite the political differences.
Encouraging the audience to vote in favor of staying within Canada and supporting the other nine referendum questions on the ballot, Smith elaborated on topics like immigration policies and potential constitutional amendments, such as cooperation with other provinces to eliminate the Senate.
While acknowledging the frustrations with the federal government, Smith stressed the importance of maintaining unity with fellow Canadians, considering them as neighbors and family, despite the existing challenges that need to be addressed.
The ongoing support for separation, estimated at around one-third of voters, with a significant portion of UCP supporters leaning towards separation, was highlighted based on recent polls.
Evaluating Smith’s speech, a former UCP communications director praised her ability to cater to both pro-unity and pro-separation factions within her party, setting a clear direction for the upcoming referendum campaign.
The event also saw the presence of several UCP MLAs and Kerry-Lynne Findlay, the newly appointed leader of the B.C. Conservatives.